Improved shot-proof dome or cupola



A. 0. GURRIER. SHOT PROOF DOME O'R GUPOLA.

Patented Nov; 11, 1862.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER C. OUR-RIER, OF HALLOWELL, MAINE.

IMPROVED SHOT-PROOF DOME OR CUPOLA.

I To all whom/it may concern.-

:Be it known that I, ALEXANDER 0. Gun- RIER, of Hallowell, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shot-Proof Cupolas or Domes for Sea and Land Service; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to thedrawinisaccompanying this declaration,

and to the lettcrs,figures, and marks of reference'in said drawingsset down, making a part of this'specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the shape, arrangement, and construction of the interior and exterior of such domes or cupolas and their appendages:

First. In the shape of the same, in that said shapeisin partasegment of asphere, spheroid, or of a polygonal body, but always in effect preserving the dome or cupola form. 1 fiatten the top portion, which receives and accommodates a wheel set flatwise into the structure and making a part of the same. This wheel is convex outward-which is to say, upward. This wheel, or rather a circular concave and convexplate of iron fitting as a cover to said wheel, is perforated with holes, th rough which may run tubes designed and calculated, in connection with other arrangements, here'- inafter itobe described, to promote the ventilation of such domes orcupolas.

Second. In setting the base of such dome or cupola into the vessel below the plane of 'the top .of the bulwarks. or glacis, whereby said base and the lower portion ofthe dome and the contents of such lower portion are protected by the bulwarks or glacis from the enemysshot; and, further, in such manner that the dome or cupola, being raised by proper gearing from its working bearings and. thus presenting a larger circumference of the spheroid or other body at the plane of intersection ith the-bulwark,is made, by the intervention of a packing of rubber or other compressible substance,to tightly close the crevice between the dome and bulwark, efi'ectually excluding water. In like manner such rais-. ing of the dome will throw out of the crevice at thei'ntersection of the dome with the top of the bulwark any iubsta-nces calculated to' impede the rotation or working of such domew'hich may by accident ordesign have gotten into the same, It will be understood that in the accompanying drawings the dome rests upon special timbers, which, if they were planked over, might be denominated a special deck. In Figure lot the drawings one ofthese timbers is shown, (marked U U U.) These timbers sit about three feet (more or less) below the plane of intersection of the dome with the top of the bulwark. In such a vessel as is represented it is assuined'that the main deck would come on aline with the top of the bulwark, as represented, and such deck or roof, as it may be. called, be plated over with iron more or less thick. Into such deck, on a vessel such as is represented, I would sink the dome some three feet; but it'is not intended to confine the use of the dome to vessels of such description. or, indeed, to any vessel, or to make such sinking of the dome an indispensable condition of its use.

Third. In agrated flooring to such dome opening into the hold of the vessel, thus assisting in the ventiiation'of the dome, and, moreover, increasing the volume of air to be operated upon by violent sounds within or without the dome, and so mitigating the reverheration.

Fourth. In lining (on or against't-he inner surface .ofthe'dome) 'with rubber or some like medium to receive andjdissip'ate'the blows of sound. I 7

Fifth. In providing in the top of the dome a ceiling parallel, or substantially so, to the floor, made of light wooden boards or other like substance, and having between that and the exterior structure layers of felt, tan, sawdust, or other like substance or substances fit to deaden the sound, making in such ceiling one or more recesses more or less shallow, the more effectually to break and dissipate the waves of sound and prevent reverberation.

Sixth. In closing the port-holes of such cupola or dome with a bar having an area at its outboard extremity sufficient for the purpose, and for lightness tapering to the inboard end, or otherwise constructed. This bar is placed between the rails of the ways or chassis on which the gun works. When the gun is run out, the bar rests on the door of the dome. When the gun is run back by its own recoil or otherwise, the bar, hoisted byatackle or other device, lies at an angle of twenty degrees,

Q new:

Seventh. In providing it 'sm llerjaperture,

" closed inside by agate and staph-1e, for taking 'nnontl ook.letting in 'liglihdrsho'oting through with small arms. j Eighth'.'-l.n n'oviding'a cy'limler or other formof receptacle nironndnml parallel to the central shall, forining'nn nindru mfrom whiclli nir 't'romwit-ho-ut the vessel, pumpedorforced in by a blower-tor other,contrivance, may be driven into the "domethrough apertures in the 1 central part ofthe "floor. flhis cylinder or other receptacle-is permanently fixed. To

I provide for the'casc of the dome being raised.

from its working henrings,'a, corresponding cylinder 'or other"receptacle, fitting either around or into the one last described, is made, .and my helnstened tothe bottom of the floorwork of the dome,.sliding telesoopicnlly when the dome ,is raised, thusv securing the con t-innity of cylinder to contain the air which i may be pumped or' forced in.

Ninth. In providing a sc'rew with capstanhead for raising'thedo ne, in. which capstanhead it socket receives the said central shaft,

"and to said screw a. nut resting on, 'clns ping, and bolted to thekeelson. V

Toennble others skilledin the art to make and usemy invent-ion, I'will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

'Reiei ringto the foregoing and to the drawings accompanying this, [make in-the top of.

the dome n wheel :t'rmnc-work of whatever sniiicientmaterial the position requires. Of this {Thine-work," A, Fig.1, denotes the hub;

B B, the spokes, and C C the telly. I cover this wheel with a. circular concave plate, of iron or other like substance, D, ,Fig. l. I ninke a stout heavy rim or flange, E'E, Fig. 1, of iron or other metal, annular between the ends of the ribs or plntesof themainportion of thedomennd the \rlieelnibresnid, fitting iton the one side to receive said ribs, and on the other'to receive said felly, 0 C, Fig. 1. In

the top of the dome I place a. board ceiling, the outline of which, F F, is snfticiently indicated in the section drawings, Fig. 1. Be-

tween this and the wheel frame-work above described I put, G G, felting, tan, or other like substance. The inside of the dome I line throughout with rubberorotherlike-material, HI-I ll. Fig. 1, di'suilicient thickness, fasten- 'ing thesnnie, as may be c'o'nvcnienh'not too firmly or closely to the structure of the'donie.

.mnke apertnresi i z',-Iiig. l, in the top of the I dome for ventilation. These, runningvertical ]y or at an angle, it were well to fit with tubes,

whose mouths-may flare downward where they conic through the board ceiling. To further facilitate the" ventilation, it-were'jwell to in-.

crease the areas of these apertures and tubes above the said mouths and again to diminish the same. Fort-hese tubes it is unnecessary to perforate much the frame-work wheel, as

they trey pass through A, and between B B and p O, and nnaugnr F,"'G G,'and H H." The iron or. other greting'floor, J J, Figs. 1 and 2, I make of suflicient strength and proper material for the purpose for which it istobe used. Ghassijs'or waysKK, Fig. 3 -"are to be 2 made,- on which'the gu us may rum-the railsend ties of which may bc'of iron or any suitable mm terial'; pierce the doine withone or moregun ports, L, Fig.1, whieh mnybe of the form of an ellipse, the smaller diameter- 'of which will be little, more than the diameter otthegun atthe muzzle, and the larger dienietersufiicient to a1 v low the required elevation-and depression. =Th'e gun-ports I close with a bar, M,;Fig.1, hereto tore substantially described,theginboard end: of which. rests, when t-he'portis closed, against a Riot-piece, N Fig. 1, bolted, to floor of don e between the rails of the chassis. The .ontbonr'dend'closing the port-holeis made to fit into a heavy flange -or rim, .0 O O, Fig.1,aronnd the port-hole (on the i nside.) Tackle for, rain-j f ing the bar isindicnted, PRonFig-I, I makea small port, Q, Fig.1, for lettingin the light,

to look o'utat, orto, shoot; amen-em min. This I close o'nthe inside by char, gate, and

rstlopple. 'lhe-stopple, making a part of the gate, fits into the eircu'mfereii'ce of said small hole, but-does not-fill it quite to the'outersue ince.v I put inside around the base'of the dome heavy timbering R R,Fig.1. I prefer to vfraine the "floor in the form ot'n wheel, set slightly convex, of which, in Fig. 1, there is represented a flange, 1, a center, 2, a lower flange, 3, spoks e 4, and felly 5.-

In Fig. 2 observe a. passage; 6, between the .hold of the vessel and the dome. v The central shaft, on which the dome rests inwholeor in part-in-its revolutions, is indicated, T, in Fig.1. v Special timbers of a ship, on which the dome is supported, are marked UU on Fig. 1. I

place a motel cylinder, V V, Fig. 1, around the central shaft, with a. bottom, through which the [shaft runs, fitting tightly around.

the shaihto exclude the air; pump in bye bloweror other contrivance air from without the vessel, which conduct bya tube, Mrs, Fig.

l, to-the said cylinder by a holev through the bottom of the same. If it were not designed to raise the dome at times, the cover of such cylinder, or the bottom of the floor-work serving as the cover, might be considered as per- I menently fixed; but to provide for the contingency of sncliraising Ifix into or around the a-bovedescribedcylinder another like cyl. inder, the one fitting into or around the other.

tightly, sliding telescopically when the dome is raised and lowered. For the top or cover of this upper cylinder, the bottom of the door-- work of the dome might serve; but its special cover be made for it, fasten that to the bottom of the floor-work; pierce holes 6 6, Figs. 1

and 2, through which the air from the cylinder may reach the dome. Besides a bearing for its revolution on the central shaft, 1 also provide for the dome auxiliary bearings, trucks set into an annular bar of iron resting on the aforesaid special timbers, the end of which bar is marked X X, Fig. 1, near the circumference of the dome. I insert a heavy hand of rubber or other compressible elastic substance in the deck, bulwark, or glacis all around the dome. The ends of this band of rubber are indicated by Y'Y, 'Fig.'1. the central shaft 1 would provide, by screw or other device, for raising the dome when out of action, and sometimes, perhaps, when in action. The dome thus raised compresses the band of rubber fixetias above, and thus the crevice 7 7, Fig. 1, between the dome and the sides of the vessel is efi'cctually closed.

In Fig. 1, Z 54 merely indicate a'stanchion of the vessel.

I would prefer, without, however, confining myself to such details of structure, to make the .ribs or plates of the dome of one thickness of iron or other substance-say four to ten inches thick-running from base of dome to flange or rim E E, Fig. 1, and having on the inside, near the edge flanges, tongues or eyes set on contiguous pieces, so as to correspond with each other, through which I would run across the line of contact of the ribs or plates stout bolts, as indicated in section A B O D ofFig. 3. This, taken in connection with the wedge shape of the ribs or plates, (their edges being coincident with radii struck' from the center of the floor of the donie,) and also in connection with the fastening by the rim E E, Fig. 1, at top and a like support at base, would everywhere present to any exterior force the strength of the arch form of constrnction,while the fastening within by bolts, as just described, would prevent the springing out of the plates or ribs; or, as another detail of fastening, the edges of the ribs or plates might be beveled to fit into each other at an angle more or less obtuse, as shown in section A I K (1 of Fig. 3; or, as a third mode of fastening, the edges of the ribs or plates might be made concave and convex, fitting into each, as shown in section B M L E of Fig. 3.

To raise the dome, I provide a cylinder, of iron or other materiahof sufficient strcngthpn the lower portionof which I work a screw of suitable pitch. Such screw turns in a nut, which may rest on the keclson. I make flanges on the not which clasp the keelsou on either side. Through these flanges 1 bolt the nut to the kcelson. '1hiscylinder I place below and in a line with the central shaft, T, Fig. 1, of the dome.

To the cylinder a b, Fig. 1, I make a head, (I d, Fig. l, of suificient thickncssandstrength,

considerably larger than the cylinder-head,

Underwith circular or hexagonal sides, flat'or convex on top. In this circular or hexagonal side (or sides) I niakesockets c, Fig. 1, to receive hand spikes to work the capstan f g h k, Fig. 1, thus turning the screw 1), Fig. 1, worked on the end of the cylinder a b, Fig. 1. In the center of said head I work a socket, an, Fig. 1, concave to receive the convex foot of the central shaft, t, Fig. 1, of the dome, in which socket said shaft T i, Fig. 1, may work as the dome revolves.

To steady and prevent distorsion of the cyl- .inder a b. Fig. 1, on which is worked the screw b, Fig. 1, I make below the head f g h Ic,.Fig. 1, and above the nut pp, Fi 1, a heavy platc,of iron or other material, 0 sufiicicnt thickness, as large as or larger than the nut, sitti-ng flat q q, Fig. 1, with a hole in its center, sees, Fig. 1. in which may revolve that portion ol'thc cylindcra, Fig. 1, which has no screw worked upon it, such cylinder a, Fig. 1, fiting accurately and working closely therein. On the vertical sides of this plate of iron 9 q are ilang'es'i' r, Fig. 1, running down and litting to two or more sides of the nut gp-p, Fig. 1. The same bolts which pass through the fiangesy y, Fig. 1, of the nut also pass through and fasten the said flanges r r, Fig. 1, and consequently the plate of iron q q, Fig. 1, of which they make a part. It will be understood that the axis of this cylinder a b, Fig. 1, is a prolongation of the axis of the central shaft,T, Fig. 1.

The advantages of such construction are that in a dome such as described less surface is exposed to the enemys shot, in proportion to the working area secured within the dome than in any shot-proof structure now in use; second, greater angles are presented to the enemys shot, in whatever line falling, thus increasing the tendency to glance ofi harmless third, much greater working area of floor is obtained with like weights of armor; fourth, the reverberation of sound and the conse queut effect upon those within the dome is prevented; fifth, a lesser thickness of platesmay be used, as the line of the enemys fire can seldom be perpendicular to a vertical line drawn through the surface of the dome at the first point of impact, and thus substantially always the exterior of the dome will be sloping to the line of shot; siitth, the effectual closing of the port when the gun is not run out; seventh, the best form for stability and absolute strength to wit, a segment not greater th..n a hemisphere-of a spheroid or other body, always preserving the dome-like form; eighth, thorough protection of the vessel from water which might come in from the bulwarks or glacis .being washed by the waves of the sea; ninth, immunity from derangcmcntof the working or rotation of the dome through obstructions placed in the crevice between it and the sides of the vessel; tenth, the resting of the dome. when in action upon its full bearings, both at and near the periphery and at the center; eleventh, thorough ventilation of the dome for the purposes described.

4 i l i eases issecured-in fact, ventilation as effectual as on the gun deck of an ordinary vessel- -the 'dome selfaeting as a ventilator to the hold 'ofithe vessel. I r v v What I claim as myinvent-ion, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is -f I 1. A shot-proof dome, substantially as and "'2. In combinatiouwith a dome of this character, the arrangement of rubber, boards, felt, tan, sawdust, -.or,' in the place of either, other like material or 1nat erials for preventing the reverberation and mitigating the effect of sound. substantially as and for the purposes des'eribedu I Y 3. The bar for'closingithe port-holeand the v arrangement of the same, substantiall y asland for the purposes described. a v

4-. The open floor for such dome, substantially as'and for the purposes described.

5. In combinationwith the foregoing, the

arrangement of cylinders or other form of re ceptaele to aid in supplying the dome withair from without, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. The arrangement of rubber or other like 'materialbetween the dome and sides of the vessel to keep out water, substantially as and for. the purposes described.

7. The arrangement of raising the dome to throw out any substances which might impede its working or rotation through friction at the point of intersection with the top. of the bulwark, substantially as and for the purposes "described: v I 4 8. Each and all'of. the several modes of fastening: first, by flanges on the inner side of the ribs or plates and bolts across; second, the

be'veling of the plates, the one inward and the adjoining one outward at an, angle more or less obtuse; and, third, the makingof the 4 edges of said plates or ribs the one concave and the adjoining .one convex on a circle smaller or greater to fit intoeach other, each substantially as and for the pur'poses' described.

9. The arrangement of raising the domeby a screw or ,its 'equivalent. into the capstan- .head of which is set the foot of the central shaft of the dome, substantially as and for the 

